Animals Really Can Help Us Feel Better

It doesn’t take much evidence to see that pets bring us joy. Ask anyone with a dog, for example, how their furry friend’s unconditional love can brighten their day. Mental health professionals are increasingly acknowledging pets’ effects on our well-being, too. Even Freud kept his dog in his office during sessions with his patients.

A 2017 study from American Humane showed that therapy dogs can provide significant psychosocial benefits to families and individuals during periods of extreme stress. Emotional support animals can also lower handlers heart rates and increase the flow of oxytocin (the “feel-good” hormone).

And according to a study in the Journal of Evidence-Informed Social Work, animal-assisted therapy can make a difference particularly in people living with post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychologists noted an 82 percent reduction in PTSD symptoms after animal-assisted therapy. A similar study in the journal Applied Developmental Science demonstrated that canine therapy is particularly useful in having positive effects on children healing from trauma.

The benefits of animal interaction and ownership are numerous because animals have a unique power to heal, encourage, and even console us. We know that their companionship helps to alleviate symptoms of mental health conditions in both the home and in clinical settings.